Our first battle at Neptune had been a bitter one, but we’d won in the end.

  Chapter 7: The Hidden Hangar

  We poked around in the wrecked interior of the pirate base. The dimly lit corridors were a chaotic mess. The place was full of destroyed equipment and debris from fallen structures.

  Floating bodies of pirates, twisted and lifeless, drifted aimlessly in the low gravity environment. If you so much as kicked one by accident, it seemed to take minutes to stop flopping around the place. The whole base was sobering, and I couldn’t help but think about how quickly death could come in space.

  We soon managed to seal the place up and get some air pressure pumping. The life support systems were functional, at least. Taking off our helmets was no treat, however. The scent of burnt flesh and smoldering metal permeated the air. The stink of it left a stinging sensation in your nostrils.

  Exploded barrels were strewn about the base. They were like metal carcasses, twisted and charred. They’d apparently once held fuel or other volatile substances. Jagged edges and sharp fragments posed a danger to anyone who dared to venture too close to these hazards, as they might rip open a fresh hole in your spacesuit.

  Ruptured weapons systems lined the walls of the base. They weren’t much more than tangled messes of cables and shattered components at this point. Sparks occasionally erupted from exposed wiring, casting flickering light and unsettling shadows on the walls.

  “Did you see that worthless son-of-a-bitch, Welks?” Ledbetter asked me after the place had stopped burning.

  “Huh?” I said. “Welks? No… What’d he do?”

  “It wasn’t what he did, it was what he didn’t do. He hung back when we went into that base and polished his nails while the rest of us risked our balls killing pirates.”

  I frowned. “That’s unacceptable.” I was thinking about contacting Sergeant Cox—but Ledbetter beat me to the punch.

  He went after Welks with a saw and a hammer. “You worthless piece of shit!” he shouted at Welks. “If I catch you loafing and chickening out again, you’re a dead man!”

  As Private Ledbetter yelled at Welks, I could feel the man’s shame. Ledbetter didn’t let up. He kept up a storm of sharp, biting words. He called Welks a coward for failing to keep up with the rest of the team.

  Welks sulked, looking down at his feet as Ledbetter continued to berate him. It was clear that he was struggling to keep up, both physically and mentally.

  Sergeant Cox stepped in at last, telling Ledbetter to lay off. He then turned on Welks. “Listen up, Welks. Are you some kind of a chicken?”

  “No, Sergeant.”

  “You lying fuck. You’re not just a coward, you’re a liar, too.”

  Welks didn’t say anything. He studied his boots.

  “You listen up,” Cox told him. “We don’t tolerate cowardice in this outfit. You have a responsibility to your fellow marines, Welks. If you can’t handle the pressure, then I’ll personally ditch you in a pile of ice. Are we clear?”

  Welks nodded, his expression grim. I hoped against hope he understood what was being said to him. He didn’t seem like the brightest bulb in Red Company, but he had to understand.

  If he didn’t pull his weight… well… his life wouldn’t be worth a bucket of pirate piss here in the out-system. These boys played rough—especially when they thought someone was endangering the group.

  “Hey… hey, Starn!” Ledbetter said, coming near me. “Come outside the base with me for a second, will you?”

  I followed him, and he pointed up into the sky. “Check that thing out. It’s an orbital gas-mining satellite.”

  I spotted what he was talking about. A satellite sat above Neptune’s atmosphere. It was pretty cool-looking.

  From here, it looked tiny, of course. But I could tell it was a massive structure with a cylindrical body that measured several hundred yards in length and width. Its exterior was covered in solar panels that collected energy from the sun, powering the various systems and machinery inside.

  “I don’t recall seeing that before…” I said.

  “Right… We’re rotating, see, so it wasn’t visible before the battle. That thing probably fuels all the local pirate ships. We should blow it the fuck up.”

  I winced, considering Ledbetter’s extreme suggestion. Sure, it was an enemy asset—but it looked kind of expensive.

  The satellite was positioned in a geostationary orbit above Neptune’s atmosphere, allowing it to remain fixed in place as the gas giant rotated below.

  Using my helmet and visor, I was able to zoom in a bit and see some details. The satellite’s primary function was to siphon fuel from Neptune’s atmosphere and refine it into a usable form that could be used to refuel ships. It had several large intakes that extended out from the body of the satellite. These dipped down into Neptune’s thick, blue atmosphere. Like straws, they drew in the gas and directed it to the processing plants inside.

  “Who built that monster all the way out here?”

  “That’s the thing…” Ledbetter said. “I think the pirates built it.”

  I gawked at him, then craned my neck to look up again. “How does it work?”

  “I’ve been inside similar refinery moons out at Jupiter. The interior is a big mess of pipes, pumps, and tanks, all working together to extract raw materials from the gas and transform them into a usable fuel. Once the fuel had been processed and refined, they store it in big-ass tanks inside the satellite. From there, they can pump it into ships that are in need of a refuel. See those little spikes on the outside? Those are docking ports that allow ships to dock and take on fuel.”

  As I gazed up at the massive structure from the surface of Naiad, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of worry. If these pirates could build shit like that… well, they were more than pirates. They were a rebel force to be reckoned with.

  We returned to the base, which was warmer and friendlier than the surface of Naiad. At least, the radiation levels inside were tolerable.

  “You feel that?” I asked Ledbetter.

  “Feel what? My gauntlets are on, and my johnson is tucked under an inch of armor.”

  “No… I’m talking about that vibration.”

  He squinted at me, and we both looked around. “Yeah…” he said. “I do feel something funny.”

  An uncanny quiet filled the wrecked base—but there was some sound. There was a strange hum, a subtle vibration we could feel through the soles of our boots. It seemed odd that any part of the base could still be active, considering the extent of the damage we’d caused.

  We followed the vibrations, our curiosity piqued. On one of the lower levels, we discovered a sealed opening hidden beneath layers of debris. It took considerable effort to clear the obstruction, and we used our tools to breach the heavy metal door beyond. As it slowly opened with a groan, a gust of stale air escaped, carrying a scent of old lubricants and the unmistakable tang of metal.

  We descended into the darkness, our flashlights sweeping across the vast space inside. To our amazement, we found ourselves inside a gigantic, buried hangar. It was an impressive sight, an immense chamber that could house numerous vessels.

  Some, in fact, were still here. These resembled familiar pirate ships while others appeared to be modified or custom-built. Rows of storage containers, equipment, and ammunition lined the walls, giving us a sense of the scale and organization of the pirate operations.

  As we ventured further into the hangar, we could easily see how this hidden facility had gone unnoticed. It was clear that the pirates had invested a great deal of time and resources into constructing and maintaining the hangar—then they’d buried it, hiding it from view. We realized that we had stumbled upon something far bigger than we had initially anticipated.

  We reported the find, naturally. I don’t think Lt. Quinn believed us at first. He barked an order to Sgt. Cox, instructing him to investigate the cavernous hangar. Sgt. Cox, in turn, delegated the task back to us.

  I sighed and assembled a squad to explore the depths of the hidden facility. My squad members exchanged uneasy glances, clearly not thrilled about venturing further into the unknown.

  “All right,” I said, “Welks, you’re up front.” I grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.”

  Private Welks, although apprehensive, took the lead with a nervous chuckle. “I always knew you had a thing for me, Corporal.”

  Ledbetter smirked, clearly relieved he wasn’t at the front. “Just don’t get us all killed, Welks.”

  The squad moved cautiously, our flashlights cutting through the darkness as we navigated the vast chamber. We uncovered a range of unusual technology and advanced weaponry, the likes of which we’d never encountered before.

  “Check this out,” Welks said, gesturing toward a strange-looking weapon. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  The weapon was composed of a smooth, black material that seemed to absorb light, making it appear both ominous and alluring. Its surface was covered in intricate, glowing blue patterns that pulsed softly, as if alive.

  The grip was designed to fit comfortably in any hand, regardless of size or shape. Its curved handle was covered with a soft, rubber-like substance, providing a secure and comfortable hold. The trigger was a touch-sensitive pad that required only a gentle press to activate it.

  “What is it?” Ledbetter asked. “A dildo?”

  “No, man,” Welks said. “Check this end out. It’s got to be the barrel of a weapon, see?”

  The end he was pointing at us had a tapered, elongated cone. The wide end opened at the front, which seemed to defy the traditional concept of a gun barrel—but I didn’t like the look of it.

  “Don’t aim that at anyone, you idiot,” I told him.

  Welks lowered the device quickly.

  Ledbetter finally seemed intrigued. “That is some kind of freaky piece of shit isn’t it?” he asked. “Hey, Starn. Can I shoot this thing off?”

  “Leave it,” I said. “You’ll blow us all up. Let the techs analyze it.”

  Welks and Ledbetter both grumbled, but they stopped poking at the odd device.

  “These pirates have been amassing quite an arsenal,” I said, and everyone agreed.

  As we explored, it became evident that we were dealing with a highly organized and well-funded group. I shook my head. I was growing concerned. “We’ve got to report in about all this stuff, guys. Who knows what kind of havoc these rebels could wreak with all this firepower.”

  Welks and Ledbetter nodded. They were happy not to walk any farther.

  I called in to Lt. Quinn directly and told him what we’d found, detailing the immense hangar and the vast array of strange technology we’d uncovered.

  “You’ve got to be shitting me,” Lt. Quinn’s voice crackled over the comms unit. “Hold your position. I’ve got a lock. I have to see this for myself.”

  It didn’t take long for Lt. Quinn to join the squad inside the hangar. His eyes widened as he took in the sheer size of the place and the advanced technology that filled it. “This is... incredible.”

  Together, we advanced deeper into the cavern, following the vibrations that seemed to be emanating from the heart of the complex. As we approached the source, we discovered a massive, alien machine, unlike anything we’d ever seen before. It was humming with power, and the vibrations it produced seemed to be shaking the very core of Naiad.

  It was shaped like a pyramid—a silvery metallic one. This pyramid wasn’t as big as the ones back home, however. I’d say it was maybe the size of a small house.

  “What is that thing?” Lt. Quinn muttered.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know, sir, but it’s definitely of alien origin. Look at the markings on it.”

  Our squad peered at the alien contraption with caution, our weapons at the ready. No one felt like getting up-close and personal with it—not even Ledbetter.

  The thing was throbbing with contained power. Its presence here under the surface of Naiad raised more questions than it answered.

  “The vibrations we’re feeling must be coming from this device,” Lt. Quinn said, eyeballing the alien machine from a safe distance.

  “I think we need Dr. Sharaf to take a look at this,” I suggested. “She might have some idea of what this thing is or what it’s capable of.”

  Lt. Quinn agreed and contacted Dr. Sharaf. He described the massive alien machine they’d discovered, but she laughed in disbelief.

  “You’ve found an alien machine that’s vibrating the whole moon?” Dr. Sharaf replied. “You’re joking, right? You fools are just trying to irritate me, aren’t you?”

  “No, Doctor, I’m serious,” Lt. Quinn insisted. I could tell he was trying to contain a growing sense of frustration behind his clenched teeth. “You need to come down here and see this for yourself—right now.”

  The argument continued for a few more minutes, with Dr. Sharaf maintaining that we were all crazy. Eventually, however, she relented and made her way down from Borag to the cavern.

  When Dr. Sharaf arrived and laid eyes on the alien machine, her disbelief quickly turned to amazement. “This... this is incredible! I can’t believe it’s real. It’s also extremely unsettling…”

  As she took a few halting steps closer to it, Lt. Quinn called out to her. “Careful! There’s some kind of field around it. A staticky zone. We’ve kept our distance.”

  Dr. Sharaf halted, and she felt the air like a mime. “Yes… I feel it. How very odd…”

  The squad watched as she circled the alien gadget at a distance of perhaps fifty yards. The mysterious alien machine hummed ominously, its vibrations radiating through the cavern. The rest of the place was deadly quiet.

  We stared at the thing. We had no idea what this machine was or what it was capable of—but we knew it was a big deal.

  “We need to figure out what this thing does,” Lt. Quinn said, taking charge of the situation. “Dr. Sharaf, any ideas?”

  Dr. Sharaf shook her head. “From this distance, it’s impossible to tell. We’d have to get closer and examine it more thoroughly.”

  No one seemed particularly eager to approach the alien machine, given its unknown capabilities and the vibrations it was causing. We all hesitated, uncertain about our next move.

  Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Well, we can’t just stand here doing nothing. We need to find out what this thing is and why the pirates were so interested in it. I’ll go.”

  As I took the first tentative steps toward the machine, the rest of the squad watched with bated breath, knowing that the answers we sought might be just within reach.

  “Hold on, Starn,” Lt. Quinn said. “We do need to investigate the alien machine further—but you’re not in charge, here.” He turned to Sgt. Cox, who didn’t hesitate to delegate the task to Welks.

  “All right, Welks, you’re up,” Cox said. “Walk over to that thing and see what happens.”

  Welks winced a little. He reluctantly approached the machine, while the rest of us jeered and cracked jokes at his expense. But after about fifty shambling steps, he was finally close to it. He reached out to touch the machine—and then the laughter died in our throats.

  In an instant, there was a flash of light. When we stopped gasping and cursing, we lowered our arms, which we’d raised to shield our eyes.

  Welks had simply vanished, leaving no trace behind.

  The atmosphere in the cavern shifted from amusement to shock and concern. Ledbetter tried to lighten the mood with a quip. “Well, at least Welks finally did something useful for Red Company.”

  But no one laughed. We all realized that something serious had just happened, and we had to figure out what to do next. There was no telling what other surprises the alien machine might hold.

  Captain Hansen, upon hearing these odd reports of an alien machine and Welks’ disappearance, decided to come down to the vast cavern herself.

  The icy walls glittered in the light of our portable lamps as she marched toward us. When she spotted the machine, her eyes went wide with disbelief. After a moment of shock, she strode over to us, her footsteps echoing through the cavern.

  “Explain this situation,” she ordered.

  Lt. Quinn and Dr. Sharaf filled her in on the details, mentioning the strange vibrations, Welks’ disappearance, and the fact that this alien machine was unlike anything we’d ever encountered before.

  Captain Hansen’s eyes narrowed as she examined the machine. “This could be some sort of portal, a gateway to another place or time,” she mused aloud. “We can’t risk losing anyone else. Not until we understand how it works and what its purpose is. Until then, we need to maintain a safe distance.”

  We all agreed. God only knew what potential dangers the mysterious alien portal might pose. The question now was how to proceed. What secrets did this machine hold, and how would we unlock them without putting the entire crew in jeopardy?

  Captain Hansen left, and Dr. Sharaf summoned her team of minions from the ship. The group of nerds were commanded to examine the alien machine from a safe distance. I wasn’t sure how they were supposed to figure it out without touching—but nobody wanted to do that.

  Like cats studying a washing machine, Sharaf’s assistants pored over the intricate markings and complex structure. They used their handheld scanners, searching databases for any clues that might help them understand its true purpose. They sent a few drones at it—and those vanished, just as Welks had done. None of them came back.

  After hours of intense discussion and analysis, the nerds finally reached a conclusion.

  “This is remarkable,” Dr. Sharaf said, her voice shaking with excitement. “We believe we’ve uncovered the purpose of this machine. It appears to be a transportation device, utilizing some form of singularity to enable instantaneous travel.”

  “Travel to where?” Captain Hansen demanded.

  Sharaf shrugged. “Who knows? So far, nothing has returned to tell us. Maybe it leads to the internal fusion fires of our Sun. Maybe it connects Neptune to Heaven itself. We have no idea.”